The Background

Downtown Los Angeles has had a hipster revival in recent years, much like Williamsburg. The reason? A vast array of abandoned warehouse space that crafty developers have remodeled into state-of-the-art condos. And in LA’s smog-infested landscape, green is best. Welcome to Elleven South, a 13-story glass monolith that sharply contrasts the standard renovations going on downtown. Why “South,” you ask? Elleven is just the first of many residential spots of its kind going up in the neighborhood once known as South Park. Its new designation will simply be “South.” It’s downtown’s newest swanky address.

The Green

As of right now, Elleven South is pursuing LEED certification. In the meantime, its claim to fame is downtown LA’s first truly green property. Energy-efficient lighting, low-VOC paint, low-flush toilets, natural fiber carpets and lots and lots of windows are just some of the features you can expect. LA’s ultra-sunny climate year-round allows Elleven to use glass to its advantage, letting in sunlight and reducing the need for electric lighting.

The Stuff

Yes, it’s LA, so it’s definitely ultra chic. What differentiates Elleven South from the rest of the properties going up in and around South Park is its versatility in design. There are standard loft apartment units, but they also offer townhomes and duplex-like layouts to give you lots of choices. The spaces are wide open and roomy with a minimal amount of walls, allowing for unparalleled versatility, and not just in the penthouse units.

The Info

All units at Elleven are currently bought up, but check out the neighborhood’s website, www.southcollection.com, for up-to-date info on residences going up around Elleven South and chances to gobble up any units that are resold. Units range from 770 to 3,100 square feet, starting at $300,000.